Ben Carson: Being gay is a choice — just look at prison

'A lot of people who go into prison go into prison straight, and when they come out, they're gay,' possible 2016 GOP candidate says.

Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon and possible 2016 Republican presidential candidate, says he believes homosexuality is a choice. His proof? Prison.

"A lot of people who go into prison go into prison straight," Carson said in an interview with CNN Wednesday. "And when they come out, they're gay. So, did something happen while they were in there? Ask yourself that question."

Carson's belief is at odds with others in the medical community who say "most people experience little or no sense of choice about their sexual orientation."

The 63-year-old said he's open to granting legal rights to same-sex couples but not to changing the legal definition of marriage.

"Why do gay people want to get married? Why do they say they want to get married? Because they want to have various rights — property rights, visitation rights," he said. "Why can't any two human beings — I don't care what their sexual orientation is — why can't they have the legal right to do those things? That does not require changing the definition of marriage."

That position also puts Carson at odds with a majority of the country. A Gallup poll conducted last year found 55 percent of Americans support recognizing same-sex marriages as legally valid.

It's not the first time Carson has voiced his controversial views on gays. In a 2013 interview with Fox News, Carson compared homosexuality to bestiality and pedophilia.

“It’s a well-established, fundamental pillar of society and no group — be they gays, be they NAMBLA, be they people who believe in bestiality — it doesn’t matter what they are, they don’t get to change the definition [of marriage],” Carson said.

He was forced to cancel a commencement speech at Johns Hopkins University over those remarks.

On Tuesday, Carson became the second major Republican to form a presidential exploratory committee.

“I’ve decided to explore a potential run for the office of president because I believe my values, life experience, and willingness to speak the truth and seek solutions, prepares me well to lead our nation toward more prosperity, security, and freedom for every American,” he said in a statement.



Carson is not the only possible 2016 GOP candidate to stir up controversy on the issue of same-sex couples.

Last month, Huckabee said homosexuality is a lifestyle choice like drinking and swearing — which is why he can accept friends who are gay, despite his religious convictions.

"People can be my friends who have lifestyles that are not necessarily my lifestyle," Huckabee said in an interview with CNN's "State of the Union." "I don't shut people out of my circle or out of my life because they have a different point of view. I don't drink alcohol, but gosh — a lot of my friends, maybe most of them, do. You know, I don't use profanity, but believe me, I've got a lot of friends who do. Some people really like classical music and ballet and opera — it's not my cup of tea."

Still, there's no chance the former Arkansas governor will ever accept gay marriage — whether he runs for president or not.

"This is not just a political issue," Huckabee said "It is a biblical issue. And as a biblical issue — unless I get a new version of the scriptures, it's really not my place to say, 'OK, I'm just going to evolve.'"

Asking a Christian to accept same-sex marriage, Huckabee said, is "like asking someone who's Jewish to start serving bacon-wrapped shrimp in their deli."

Being Gay is trash, damn the write up
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. Meanwhile
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. Working on my rap aalbum

While i like Ben Carson's view on homosexuality as he seems to recognize religion, all i can say is that's their own cup of tea..

14 years imprisonment awaits whoever dares homosexuality in Naija, thanks to oga Jona for not yielding to their threats... Imagine a man straffing another man..yucckkk

I agree with him. Being gay is a choice those involved made.
Ben Carson is a christian( Seventh Day Adventist) I believe. So I don't expect him to support gays and gay laws.

The 14 years sentences in Nigeria is just rubbish anyway. Gay parties hold every other weekend in this city and they (lawmakers) are aware.

Truly, I think its a choice. We all can't like the same thing. If a man decides to look at a pretty girl and not feel anything, but see a male model and go all bunkers, that's his choice.

I met quite a few during my school days. Some were my friends but I always established boundaries. And yea, it does get weird sometimes.

Most times it has to do with the environment... Nobody is created gay, and I'm so freaking sure!

Some reason in the land of perversion. Who would have thought!

Wise words from a great man. Being gay is all about choice and condition. An example of this is lesbianism in girls only secondary school. Most girls there go into it because they want to satisfy their sexual urge and because guys are not readily available(condition) and not because they were born that way. Nobody is ever born gay, it's all about the decisions we make

Tell them o....why shud i be attracted to a girl with boobies and other things like me?!
What wud be d attraction?!

You guys confuse being gay with gay sex. Being gay as a sexual orientation is not a choice. Having sex with someone of the same sex out of desperation to 'burst a nut' is.

Either Ben Carson needs a certification renewal or he has overstepped his professional boundaries....

I THINK IT'S A DISEASE, BAD LUCK OR SOMETHING ELSE BUT CHOICE. HOW CAN ONE CHOOSE A LIFESTYLE OF RIDICULE AND HATE. I DON'T BELIEVE THE DOC.